K-Pop Princess Accused of “Man-Hating” After KCON LA Meet & Greet Video Explodes Online
A seemingly innocent moment at KCON LA 2025 has exploded into one of the most polarizing controversies in K-pop this year, with IVE’s Jang Wonyoung at the center of a heated global debate about gender dynamics, fan treatment, and alleged misandry. The viral clip, which has amassed millions of views and sparked thousands of comments related to “Hearts Only for Women” and “Man-Hating” across social media platforms, shows the 20-year-old K-pop sensation appearing to treat male and female fans differently during a meet-and-greet event—igniting fierce reactions from both supporters and critics.
The Moment That Broke the Internet
The controversy erupted from footage taken during IVE’s meet-and-greet session at KCON LA 2025 on August 2nd and 3rd, where fans paid up to $110 for brief face-to-face interactions with their idols. In the viral clip that surfaced on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Wonyoung can be seen making heart gestures and displaying animated expressions when female fans walk past her, while appearing more reserved when male fans approach fueling Hearts Only for Women” controversy.
The video, originally shared by user @JANGVVICKY with the caption “not even a glance for men that’s my queen,” quickly went viral with hundreds of thousands of views and likes. What started as a seemingly celebratory post from fans soon snowballed into a massive online debate about Wonyoung’s alleged differential treatment of fans based on gender.
The Accusations Fly: “Professional Wonyoung Haters” Emerge
Critics were swift to label Wonyoung’s behavior as discriminatory, with some using terms like “misandrist” to describe her alleged preference for female fans. Comments flooded social media platforms, with users claiming she was deliberately ignoring male fans while showering female fans with attention. The hashtag began trending as detractors accused the IVE member of harboring anti-male sentiments.
“She literally did hearts only for girls and completely ignored the men,” wrote one Twitter user, while another commented, “This is what misandry looks like in action”. The backlash was particularly intense on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, where compilation videos highlighting the alleged differential treatment began circulating rapidly.
i love how she only makes hearts for girls https://t.co/b4AV3vMaWa
— everiize 𝜗𝜚˚⋆ (@everiizee) August 3, 2025
However, the situation became even more complex when fans began digging deeper into the footage and context surrounding the event. Some critics went as far as creating dedicated hate accounts, with comments on Wonyoung’s Instagram including death threats and vicious personal attacks—a disturbing pattern that has followed the idol throughout her career.
Defenders Rally: “Equal Energy for Everyone”
Wonyoung’s supporters were quick to push back against the accusations, providing alternative explanations and context for the viral moment. Many pointed out that the clip showed only a small portion of what was actually a longer meet-and-greet session, arguing that drawing conclusions from such limited footage was unfair.
“She literally did the same for everyone,” defended one fan, while another wrote, “That’s my girl so don’t come for me but she’s literally giving everyone equal energy like y’all really are delusional and love projecting your own ideas onto these people”. Supporters emphasized that Wonyoung was professional throughout the event and that any perceived differences in her interactions could be attributed to the brief, high-pressure nature of the meet-and-greet format.
The defense gained traction when fans began sharing additional footage and photos from the event, showing Wonyoung interacting warmly with fans of all genders throughout the weekend. Many argued that the controversy was yet another example of the intense scrutiny and unfair criticism that has plagued Wonyoung throughout her career.
The Broader Pattern: Wonyoung’s History of Controversies
This latest incident is far from the first time Wonyoung has found herself at the center of online controversy. The IVE member has faced criticism for everything from how she eats strawberries and pizza to her alleged “pick-me” behavior and fashion choices. Her every move has been dissected and criticized by online communities, leading many to describe her as one of the most unfairly targeted idols in K-pop.
Just weeks before the KCON controversy, Wonyoung faced backlash over her outfit choice at a soccer match, with critics accusing her of seeking attention through revealing clothing. Even after it was revealed that IVE members chose their own outfits for the event, the criticism continued, demonstrating the persistent nature of the negative attention she receives.
The pattern of criticism has led many industry observers to point to deeper issues of misogyny and jealousy in K-pop fandom culture. “The hate towards her is actually rooted in misogyny, whether people choose to acknowledge it or not,” commented one Reddit user, highlighting how female idols often face disproportionate criticism compared to their male counterparts.
Social Media Explodes: The Numbers Don’t Lie
The controversy generated massive engagement across social media platforms, with the original viral tweet receiving over 100,000 interactions within days of posting. On TikTok, related videos accumulated millions of views, while YouTube shorts and Instagram reels featuring the footage spread rapidly across international fan communities.
The hashtag trends revealed the global reach of the controversy, with discussions happening in multiple languages and across different cultural contexts. Korean netizens, international fans, and casual observers all weighed in on the debate, creating a perfect storm of viral content that kept the story trending for days.
Comments ranged from supportive (“I have never felt so lucky to be a woman before. If I were a man, Wonyoung would just wave bye to me”) to critical (“Misandrists projecting their worldview onto idols”), showcasing the deeply divided nature of public opinion on the matter.
Industry Context: The $110 Question
The controversy also highlighted broader issues within the K-pop industry, particularly regarding fan access and commercialization. The fact that fans paid $110 for what many described as a “6-second meet and greet” at KCON LA 2025 sparked its own debate about the value and ethics of such interactions.
Critics questioned whether such brief, expensive encounters could ever provide meaningful fan-idol interactions, while others defended the pricing as standard for the K-pop industry. The controversy around Wonyoung’s behavior thus became intertwined with larger questions about fan culture, commercialization, and the pressures placed on idols during these high-stakes events.
Read More: NJZ Heads to Court Over ADOR Contract: The K-Pop Saga Shaping the Industry
Expert Analysis: The Psychology of Viral Hate
K-pop industry experts and psychologists have weighed in on the phenomenon, noting that Wonyoung’s situation exemplifies how successful female performers often become targets for disproportionate criticism. The pattern mirrors experiences of other successful female idols who have faced similar controversies over minor behavioral differences.
“What we’re seeing is a classic case of confirmation bias,” explains one social media analyst. “People who already dislike Wonyoung will interpret any action as evidence of their pre-existing beliefs, while supporters will defend the same actions. The truth likely lies somewhere in between.”
The expert community has also noted how the 24/7 nature of social media amplifies these controversies, turning minor moments into major international incidents that can significantly impact an idol’s career and mental health.
The Bigger Picture: Gender Dynamics in K-Pop
The controversy has sparked broader discussions about gender dynamics within K-pop fandom culture. Some observers have noted that Wonyoung’s fanbase is predominantly female, with studies suggesting that her appeal resonates particularly strongly with young women who admire her confidence and success.
This demographic reality has led to speculation about whether Wonyoung’s interactions simply reflect her natural comfort level with her core fanbase, rather than any intentional discrimination. Industry insiders point out that many idols naturally gravitate toward interacting with fans who mirror their primary demographic.
The debate has also highlighted the different standards applied to male and female idols, with critics noting that male performers rarely face similar scrutiny for their fan interactions. This double standard has become a rallying point for Wonyoung’s defenders, who argue that the controversy is yet another example of misogynistic targeting.
What Happens Next: The Road Forward
As the controversy continues to generate discussion online, industry observers are watching closely to see how it might impact Wonyoung’s career and future public appearances. Starship Entertainment, IVE’s management company, has not issued any official statement regarding the matter, maintaining their typical approach of letting controversies fade naturally rather than amplifying them through responses.
The incident is likely to influence how meet-and-greet events are structured and filmed in the future, with organizers potentially being more conscious of how brief interactions might be interpreted when taken out of context. Some industry insiders suggest that the controversy could lead to more controlled environments for fan interactions to prevent similar situations.
For Wonyoung personally, the controversy represents another challenge in what has been a career marked by intense scrutiny and criticism. Her supporters hope that her track record of resilience and professionalism will help her weather this latest storm, while critics continue to analyze her every public appearance for signs of the behavior they claim to have identified.
The broader implications for K-pop culture remain to be seen, but the incident has certainly added fuel to ongoing discussions about fan culture, gender dynamics, and the intense pressures faced by young performers in the global spotlight. As social media continues to shape how these controversies unfold, the Wonyoung situation serves as a case study in how quickly minor moments can explode into major international incidents in the digital age.
Whether this controversy will have lasting impact on Wonyoung’s career or fade into the background like many previous incidents remains to be seen. What is certain is that it has once again highlighted the complex relationship between K-pop idols, their fans, and the ever-watchful eye of social media—a dynamic that shows no signs of becoming less intense as the genre continues its global expansion.
